Harper admits 'surprise' at NDP surge in polls

OTTAWA — Stephen Harper admits even he has been surprised by the recent surge of the NDP in the polls.

In an interview on the Global News program Focus: Decision Canada, hosted by Carolyn Jarvis, the Conservative leader said despite the so-called orange wave, the primary question of the election has not changed: does the country want the next government to be a Conservative majority or a coalition?

"I think it's been a bit of a surprise for everyone, but it doesn't actually change what we've been fundamentally saying about this election," Harper said in reference to the rise in NDP popularity.

"The fact that the NDP is now leading makes the choice clearer, because the NDP's path on the economy is very clear, tens of billions of dollars of spending to be funded by tax increases," he said.

Harper echoed a message he has been using throughout the campaign, only if voters hand the Conservatives a majority will Canada be able to fully recover from the recent recession.

He spent most of his time, however, focusing his attention on Jack Layton's party, instead of his earlier refrains against the Liberals.

When asked if he would have run a more aggressive campaign if he would have known from the start of the NDP's change in fortune, Harper said his party would have run a similar campaign no matter what the circumstances were.

Harper admitted he can be a very "serious guy," but said he is in a "very serious business."

"I cannot go around the country telling people I'm the best guy to have a beer with," he said. "That's the other guy."

The Conservative leader also offered a side of himself many may not know. Harper, it turns out is a "movie buff."

Harper goes to movies "almost once a week" with friends in Ottawa — "for the most part, not political guys," he said — to catch a movie.

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